Food safety remains on the Government Accountability Office’s “high-risk” list, according to an update put out by the agency Thursday. As GAO noted in its report, the U.S. government is the “world’s largest and most complex entity” that runs an incredibly diverse range of programs, so the agency uses its high-risk list to draw attention… Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it has stopped annual food safety audits for foreign countries shipping meat to the U.S. and will now do these audits just once every three years. The policy change was made nearly three years ago, and Food Safety News exclusively reported on the scale-back nearly three months ago, but USDA’s Food… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) is urging the Obama administration to not weaken food safety protections in initiatives with Canada as the two countries work to hash out the details of the Regulatory Cooperation Council and the Beyond the Border program. “There are significant differences between the two countries’ food safety systems and easing the way… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Congressman Walter Jones (R-N.C.) sent a letter to the Obama Administration Thursday asking that public health be a focus during the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Agreement. The lawmakers are concerned that, as result of expanded trade with Vietnam and Malaysia – two… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) said this week that the recent recall of cantaloupes for Listeria, which was initiated after the Microbiological Data Program found the bacteria in a sample, shows that the small produce testing program should not be cut. MDP identified the contaminated melons just two weeks after the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Ct), who serves as Ranking Member on the Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, expressed disappointment Tuesday regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that there will be a 90 day delay in implementing their new non-O157 E. coli policy. As her office noted in a release: “Congresswoman DeLauro has… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), a longtime hawk on food safety issues, once again blasted Republicans for seeking cuts to federal food safety programs, this time singling out Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) whose own district is currently dealing with an E. coli outbreak. Tyson Fresh Meats recalled more than 131,000 pounds of ground… Continue Reading
The death Tuesday of another victim of the cantaloupe-caused Listeria outbreak has been confirmed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Shelly Occhipinti-Krout, 48, of Parker, CO died at Parker Adventist Hospital Tuesday morning, three weeks after being infected with Listeria from eating cantaloupe. Her death — the second in Colorado — raises… Continue Reading
As a Salmonella Agona outbreak linked to Mexican papayas unfolds, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ranking Member on the Labor, Education, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, is calling on Congress to fund the implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. So far, the outbreak is linked to 99 illnesses, including 10 hospitalizations, in 23… Continue Reading
House lawmakers grilled Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Tuesday on the impact proposed Republican budget cuts would have on key U.S. Department of Agriculture services like food safety inspection. Democrats posed pointed questions regarding food safety in particular before a House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee hearing focused on USDA’s budget for the rest of the fiscal year…. Continue Reading
With the one-year-anniversary of the First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign approaching, New Haven Public Schools unveiled a new salad bar at Mauro-Sheridan Science, Technology and Communications School on Thursday. USDA Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton joined U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Chef Timothy Cipriano, Executive Director, New Haven Public School Food Services, and New… Continue Reading